People

Progress in the LGBT Community

2013

June 26

The Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, an act President Obama previously declared unconstitutional and refused to defend.

February 11

The Obama administration’s directive on same-sex domestic partner benefits opened the door for the Defense Department to extend legally available benefits and allowances to same-sex domestic partners of members of the Armed Forces.

2012

July 19

The Obama administration announced nearly 80 million in additional grants to fund HIV/AIDS care and end ADAP wait lists.

June 26

The Pentagon celebrated LGBT Pride month for the first time.

May 3

Under the directive of the Obama Administration, our prison system added an LGBT representative to the diversity program at each of the nation’s 120 federal prisons.

May

President Obama and Vice President Biden announced their support for same-sex marriage.

The White House announced an LGBT Conference Series to address issues affecting LGBT Americans, including health, housing, and safety.

January 28

The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a new rule protecting against housing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

2011

December 6

President Obama issued a presidential memorandum that directs all Federal agencies engaged abroad to ensure that U.S. diplomacy and foreign assistance promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons.

December 1

On World AIDS Day, President Obama recommitted the U.S. to creating an AIDS-free generation.

November 1

In his presidential proclamation of National Adoption Month, President Obama called for equal treatment for same-sex adoptive parents.

October 1

President Obama addressed the annual Human Rights Campaign dinner for the second time.

September 30

The Obama administration permitted military chaplains to officiate same-sex marriages where legal.

The Obama administration completed an Institute of Medicine study on LGBT health, the first of its kind.

March 10

The White House hosted the first-ever Conference on Bullying Prevention in America’s schools.

February 23

President Obama declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and announced the administration would no longer defend it in court.

2010

December 22

President Obama signed the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don’t Tell"

December 21
p{The Obama administration led a United Nations measure to restore “sexual orientation” to the definition of human rights.
October 21

President Obama recorded "It Gets Better" video to support LGBT youth experiencing bullying.

October 1

The Department of Health and Human Services awarded the largest grant ever to an LGBT organization, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center. The funds went toward combating discrimination against LGBT youth in the foster care system.

July 19

Under the leadership of the Obama administration, our representatives successfully fought for UN accreditation of IGLHRC (the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission).

June 22

The Obama administration released America’s first comprehensive plan to prevent and end homelessness, which includes homeless LGBT youth.

June 22

The Obama administration clarified the Family and Medical Leave Act to ensure family leave for LGBT employees.

The Obama administration lifted the ban that prohibited people with HIV/AIDS from entering the United States.

January 1

The Obama administration banned discrimination in federal workplaces based on gender identity.

2009

November
p{President Obama sent an administration official to the Senate to testify in favor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the first time any official of an administration has done so.
October 30

President Obama signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act.

October 28

President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act into Law, which extends the coverage of Federal hate crimes law to include attacks based on the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

October 21

The Obama administration created a National Resource Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders.

August 12

President Obama awarded the highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, to Billie Jean King and Harvey Milk.

June 29

President Obama hosted the first-ever White House LGBT Pride reception.

June 17

President Obama ordered the federal government to extend key benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.

June 19

The Census Bureau ended a policy that kept LGBT relationships from being counted, encouraging couples who consider themselves married to file that way and urging transgender Americans to identify their true gender.

In a major step in the fight for LGBT equality, the White House urged the Supreme Court last week to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act. If you're as proud as we are to have a president who is fighting for the right of all people to marry, get his back.

Friend --

This is huge. President Obama just took another step toward equality for all.

On Friday, the Obama administration filed a brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act.

I couldn't be more proud to have a president who stands up for equality and is willing to fight for the right of all people to marry, no matter who they love.

Do you have the President's back while he fights for equality? Show him you do by donating $5 or more today:

Last week, we inaugurated a president. It's easy to see an inauguration as the culmination of a long-fought campaign, but as our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, reminded supporters in an email today, we still have a lot to do. From tackling climate to working for LGBT equality, the next four years will be busy.

Read the chair's email below, then chip in what you can to make sure it's a productive term.

Friend --

Watching President Obama take the oath of office last Monday was an incredible reward for all of the time and energy that you and millions of other Democrats put in throughout the election. And when I looked out at the sea of supporters who braved the cold to watch the President's inauguration, I was reminded that in you we have the support we need to make incredible change over the next four years.

Since I became Chair of the Democratic Party two years ago, my motto has been "no one will outwork us." And although we're still celebrating our incredible victories in 2012, it's time for us to get back to work.

President Obama has outlined an ambitious plan for his second term, including tackling climate change, working for full equality for LGBT Americans, and making sure that all Americans, no matter where they come from or who their parents are, have an equal shot. And it's up to us to fight for Democrats and make sure that that agenda becomes law.

Donate $5 or more now to make sure we have the resources to fulfill our duty to our country, ourselves, and the millions of Americans whose lives will change for the better:

"While President Obama’s lopsided support among Latino and other minority voters has been a focus of postelection analysis, the overwhelming support he received from another growing demographic group — Americans who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual — has received much less attention."

LGBT Community on Facebook

Obama: It Gets Better

Recent Action

Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

The majority of the Armed Forces is comprised of Young Americans volunteering to defend this nation and its ideals. However, a sect of the population was forced to hide their sexual orientation in order to do so. President Obama lead the charge to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell allowing gay and lesbian members of the Armed Forces to serve openly for the first time in American history.